“To end the war, both sides will have to make concessions,” – said the new U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio

The new U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, called Russia the “aggressor” while stating that the new administration “wants the war to end.”

This was reported by Voice of America.

“Russia is the aggressor in this conflict, but this war must end. Ultimately, this is the complexity of foreign policy,” Rubio said, speaking to reporters on Monday shortly after his unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

The new Secretary of State said he could not set a timeline for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine but added that both sides would need to make concessions to achieve peace.

“We want the war to end. That’s clear enough,” Rubio said, referencing President Donald Trump’s message that he “wants to be the president who fosters peace and ends conflicts.” However, Rubio acknowledged, “this will be challenging.”

“These are complex matters. I cannot set a specific timeline except to say that in any conflict resolution where neither side can achieve its maximum goals, both sides will have to make some concessions,” Rubio emphasized, without specifying what Ukraine’s concession might be.

“The involved countries, both the Russians and the Ukrainians, will make the final decisions about what they agree to,” Rubio added.

Speaking with journalists, he said negotiations with such high stakes “are best conducted diplomatically, not in public forums.”

When asked how soon the new administration might initiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, Rubio said, “This will be a top priority for the president, so it will begin almost immediately.”

According to him, contacts on this matter have already begun.

“In fact, some of this has already started. One can hope that some groundwork has already been laid, but this will be difficult,” Rubio said, adding that “this is a complex and bloody conflict, and it needs to end.”